Perched several meters above ground, winding between the buildings of Chelsea, the High Line is now one of New York City’s most iconic urban parks. This elevated garden, attracting millions of visitors each year, was not always the green jewel we know today. The High Line was born from a history marked by industrialization, urban decline, and citizen resilience. In this narrative, we delve into the evolution of this space, once intended for freight trains, before becoming one of the city’s most innovative green spaces.
The origins of the High Line: a response to industrialization
The historical context of Manhattan’s West Side
At the beginning of the 20th century, Manhattan was rapidly expanding. The West Side, in particular, quickly became a hub for industry, dominated by warehouses, factories, and port terminals. This rapid development was accompanied by an increasing need for freight transportation. The neighborhood became crisscrossed by train convoys transporting food, industrial goods, and other essential products for the city. Unfortunately, this situation also led to a series of severe safety problems.
Train traffic on the ground-level tracks along 10th Avenue proved particularly dangerous. Between the 1850s and 1930s, many pedestrians were victims of accidents, earning the street the nickname “Death Avenue.” The situation became so dire that the city hired “West Side Cowboys,” men on horseback tasked with preceding the trains by waving flags to warn passersby. However, this temporary solution was not enough to solve the problem.
The creation of the elevated railway
In response to this critical situation, the city and the New York Central Railroad decided to launch an ambitious project: elevating the railway. Thus, in 1934, the West Side Improvement Project was completed, including the construction of the High Line. This new elevated railway line, stretching over 21 kilometers, eliminated the dangerous ground-level tracks and facilitated freight transport.
The High Line connected the warehouses and factories of the West Side directly to the railway network, even passing through some industrial buildings to maximize efficiency. For several decades, it transported tons of products, with a large portion being meat and other food items destined for the city’s markets.
The decline and abandonment of the High Line
Changing transportation modes
Although the High Line experienced a period of prosperity after its inauguration, the rapid evolution of transportation infrastructure in the 1950s-60s gradually reduced its usefulness. Truck transport, which became more efficient and flexible, began to replace rail. The construction of highways and the rise of trucks allowed goods to be transported directly to distribution points, making urban rail lines like the High Line increasingly irrelevant.
Gradual closure and abandonment
With decreasing demand, parts of the High Line were dismantled in the 1960s, leaving the remaining section abandoned. This remaining stretch spanned about 2.3 kilometers, from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, in the heart of Chelsea. The High Line became a relic of the industrial era, gradually overrun by vegetation and forgotten by New Yorkers.
In the 1980s, there was even a proposal for the complete demolition of what was left of the line, to make way for new real estate projects. But over the decades, nature slowly reclaimed the steel and concrete, transforming the abandoned railway into an unexpected wild landscape.
The rebirth of the High Line
Mobilizing to save the High Line
It was in the late 1990s that the High Line found its saviors. In 1999, two neighborhood residents, Robert Hammond and Joshua David, founded the “Friends of the High Line” association. They refused to see this historic structure disappear and dreamed of transforming it into a public park. At the time, their initiative seemed crazy. Most political and real estate actors wanted the structure demolished.
However, thanks to their persistence, Robert Hammond and Joshua David were able to rally support for their cause. They organized events, petitions, and met with architects and urban planners to imagine what the High Line could become. Gradually, they caught the attention of local politicians, including then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who supported the idea of converting it into an urban park.
The early stages of the transformation
After securing political and financial support, design work began in collaboration with world-renowned architects, including James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf. Their vision was to preserve the industrial spirit of the High Line while incorporating landscape elements that reflected the wild ecosystem that had naturally developed on the abandoned railway.
The project was ambitious, respecting the original materials and structure while adding contemporary touches such as integrated benches, winding paths, and observation areas.
The inauguration and success of the High Line
Progressive inauguration of the park
In 2009, the first section of the High Line, from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street, was opened to the public. The success was immediate. New Yorkers and tourists flocked to experience this unique elevated space. The second section, extending to 30th Street, was inaugurated in 2011, followed by the third section in 2014, reaching Hudson Yards. The park became a symbol of urban rehabilitation, transforming a once-dilapidated infrastructure into a vibrant green space for relaxation.
A reinvented green space
What makes the High Line so special is the way it blends industrial history with ecological modernity. The park retains many features of the old railway: the tracks are still visible in places, harmoniously integrated into the plantings. Piet Oudolf, known for his naturalistic approach to landscape design, selected local, resilient plants, many of which were species that had spontaneously grown on the abandoned track. This combination of wild elements and contemporary design creates a unique atmosphere where nature seems to coexist with urban life.
The High Line also offers exceptional views of the city. From its walkways, visitors can see the Hudson River, Manhattan’s skyscrapers, and the neighborhood’s historic buildings. Visitors can relax on lounge chairs, picnic, or simply stroll while enjoying the art installations along the route.
The impact of the High Line on New York
Revitalizing the neighborhood
The opening of the High Line has had a significant impact on the neighborhoods it crosses, particularly Chelsea and the Meatpacking District. Once marked by a certain degree of post-industrial decline, these areas have undergone a true renaissance. New real estate projects have sprung up, transforming the old industrial landscape into a luxury residential and commercial district. Art galleries, restaurants, and high-end boutiques have moved in around the park, attracting a more affluent population and boosting the local economy.
The Whitney Museum of American Art, for example, relocated at the foot of the High Line in 2015, further enhancing the neighborhood’s cultural appeal. The proximity of this iconic museum and the High Line contributes to making this area a premier artistic and tourist destination.
A model for other cities
The success of the High Line is not limited to New York. Its model has inspired other cities worldwide. Paris, for example, had already inaugurated the Promenade Plantée, a similar project, in the 1990s. Other cities, such as Chicago and Mexico City, have also embarked on converting abandoned infrastructure into elevated parks.
The High Line has become a benchmark in sustainable urban rehabilitation. It demonstrates that it is possible to reinvent an obsolete industrial space into a living place while respecting history and ecology. It is also an example of how collaboration between citizens, politicians, and urban planners can transform a city.
The story of the High Line is one of metamorphosis. What was once a railway dedicated to freight transport has been transformed, thanks to citizen initiative and architectural ingenuity, into a unique elevated park in the heart of New York. A symbol of the city’s capacity for reinvention, the High Line is now a space for walking, relaxation, and culture, as well as a global model of urban rehabilitation. It is a story that reminds us of the importance of preserving and transforming our heritage for the benefit of future generations.